Juniors lead Panthers past WCSU in LEC game

Feb 19, 2002

PLYMOUTH, N.H. - Plymouth State College's four
juniors combined to score 55 points Tuesday night, leading the
third-seeded Panthers to a 77-59 victory over sixth-seeded Western
Connecticut State University in a Little East Conference Women's
Basketball Tournament quarterfinal at Foley Gymnasium.

The win advances the Panthers (18-7 overall) to a semi-final
encounter at 6:00 p.m. Friday in Gorham, Maine, against
second-seeded Eastern Connecticut State University. The Warriors,
24-1 overall and ranked #2 nationally in the USA TODAY/ESPN/WBCA
poll, earned a first-round bye after sharing the regular season
title with the University of Southern Maine. Western Connecticut
concludes its season at 10-15.

The game was close most of the first half before PSC went on a
14-4 run in the final two minutes to take a 13-point lead (40-27)
into the break. The Panthers extended the lead to 20 points midway
through the second half (58-38) before coasting home with the win.

The Panthers frustrated Western with a pressure defense, making
23 steals and forcing 32 Colonial turnovers. WCSU shot just 39
percent for the game, but had a 42-34 advantage in rebounding. PSC
shot 44 percent from the field.

Plymouth State will be looking for their first win in three
tries this season against Eastern Connecticut. The Warriors
defeated the Panthers 82-71 in Willimantic, Conn., on Dec. 8th, and
85-73 in Plymouth on Jan. 26th.

The LEC Tournament championship game will be at Southern Maine
on Saturday (3 p.m.), with the champion receiving an automatic
berth into the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.